Adjusting mechanism for fruit-grading-machine kicker wheels



June 12, 1928.'

E. M. WAYLAND ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR' FRUIT'GRADING' MACHINE KIGKER WHEELS Filed Feb 8, 1927" Inventor Patented June 12, 1928.

narran stares EDWIN WAYLAND, OF COVESVILLE, VIRGINIA.

ADJUSTING MEGHANISM FOR FRUET-GRADINGMACHINE KICKER` WHEELS.

Application filed February This invention relates generally to that type of fruit grading machines including a plurality of kicker wheels disposed in predetermined spaced position with respect to 5 the usual sizing belt for so engaging the fruit as to kick the saine from the sizing belt to the distributing belt, the invention having more specifically to do with means whereby the kicker wheels may be moved and maintained in predetermined spaced position with respect to the sizing belt.

One of the primai'y objects of the invention is to' provide an adjusting device of this character that may be readily installed in this general type of fruit grading machinery without requiring any unusual alterations or expenditure and without in any manner whatever affecting the satisfactory operation of such type of machine.

With the foregoing and other objects 4in View as the nature of the invention will be better understood, the same comprises the novel form. combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described. showny in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

ln the drawing wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a view in fragmentary diagrammatic section of a kicker wheel type of. fruitgrading-machine showing in side elevation and partly in cross section my improvedkicker wheel adjusting mechanism. Figure 2 is ay vertical section taken substantially upon the, line 2 2 of Figure 1, and

Figure` 3 is a longitudinal section through the clevis of the adjusting means and taken figure.

First having reference to that structure of a conventional kicker wheel fruit grader disclosed in dotted lines. A designates one of the usual vertical wooden posts of the machine frame7 while B designates the sizer belt supporting decking that is usually inclined in a transverse direction as disclosed and over which moves the usual sizer belt C. At the edge of this decking B remote from the post A is an oppositely inclined wider decking D over which travels the distributing belt E of the grading machine. This character of grader also includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced' circular kicker substantially upon the line 3 3 of the same. v

8, 1927. Serial Ho. 166,740.

shaft 6 suitably operated and arranged above the sizer belt C and slightly inwardly thereof. j

My particular adjusting mechanismv consists of an angle plate 7 having a pair of openings in the top wall thereof adjacent the opposite ends so as, to `permit the securing of this plate to the usual horizontal wooden frame bar of the machine, not shown, by bolt and nut connections 8 8. Rigidly secured to the depending wall of this'angle plate is a depending relatively triangular shaped metallic plate 9 to the lower end of which is pivotally secured as atl() an elongated lever 11 preferably of flat barslike configuration. the forward end of which is of slightly downwardly converging relation with respect to themaior length of the lever as clearly indicated in Figure 1. and through the forward end of `which extends the kicker operating shaft 6 and preferably .directly adjacent one of the -kicker wheels as more rclearly disclosed in the sectional view, Figure 2.

rlhe side wall of the angle plate 7 'terminates at therear end inwardly of the rear end of the top wall as indicated in Figure 1 and disposed through an opening in the end of the top wall 'of said plate is a. threaded eye bolt 12 to the lowerr eyed end of which is pivoted. as at 13 a depending clevis 14. As clearly disclosedA in Figure 3,

this clevis consists of a pair of narrow plates 15 15 maintained in spaced relation at their upper ends by the disposition of the eyed end of the bolt 12 therebetween and at their lowerv ends by spacing member 16 secured to the plates by cross rivets-17.

ThreadedI upon the ,eye bolt 12 beneath the angle plate 7 is a lock nut 18.y while threaded upon the upper end of said bolt is a Wing nut 19 for a purpose hereinafter more fully described.

These plates 15 of the clevis 14 are formed with longitudinal rows of spaced openings 20 20, those of one row being in staggered relation with those of the other, as clearly disclosed in Figure 1, and the openings of Aboth plates being in registration with each other. Preferably one of the plates adjacent the center row of openings carries indicating numerals for indicating the degree of movement of the outer end of the lever 11 when the inner end thereof whichcarwheels 5 disposed upon a common rotatingries an opening 21 between'the plates is moved in opposite directions within the clevis.V The registration ot' the opening in thevlever with the inner rows oi openings.

will indicate the degree of movement of the outer end o the lever by one-half of the predetermined distance between the outer `rows of openings, which is ot course obvious.

yVvlien the Vopening in the lever ll has been brought into registration with the predetermined registering openings in the plates lf3-l5 ot the clevis, a cotter pin 22 or other similar locking means is passed therethrough for preventing the swinging oi' the lever. Y

Micrometric adjustments of the lever 11 may be secured by adjusting the connection between the eye bolt 12 and angle plate 7.

Y ments it is nevertheless to be understood vthat some changes Vmay be made therein wit-hout affecting the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what IV claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is rl; In a kicker wheel adjusting means for fruit grading machines of the kicker wheel variety including a sizing belt, and a driven kicker wheel arranged above thebelt, a lever loosely attached at one end to a wheel mount, aV pivotal connection between the lever at an intermediate point in the length of theVlat-ter and the machine frame structure in back ofthe wheel, a support, means at the rear end of the lever whereby the same may be secured in 'predetermined raised or lowered position, said means pendent from and adjustable relative to said support.

2. In a kicker wheel adjusting means for fruit grading machines of the kicker wheel variety including a sizing belt, a plurality of swinging and driven kicker wheels and a machine frame unit above and inback of the wheels, a bracket rigidly bolted to the said frame directly in back oi' one of the kicker wheels, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said bracket and loosely connect-v ed at its forward end to fthe wheel mount,

and means at the rear end ot' the bracketv for facilitating the anchoringof the outer end of the lever in predetermined raised or lowered position, said means consisting of a clevis depending iromthe end'otl the bracket and pivoted thereto and between which the end of the lever is arranged, said clevis being Vformed throughout' its length ywith spaced openings while said lever is formed with an opening for registration with predetermined openings of the clevis so that a pin may be passed therethrough. j j

3. In a kicker wheel adjusting means for fruit grading machines ofthe kicker wheel variety including a sizing belt, a plurality ofswinging and drivenkicker wheels and a machine frame unit above and in back of thewheels, a lbracket rigidly bolted to the said frame directly in back of `one of the kicker wheels, a leverpivoted intermediate its ends to said bracket and loosely connected at its forward end to the wheel mount, and means at therear' end of the bracket for facilitating the anchoring of the outer end oit thelever in predetermined raised or lowered position, Ysaid means consisting of an eye bolt depending from thev rear end of the bracket, a clevisfpivoted to the eye of the bolt and depending thereromyand formed at its sides 'p with longitudinally spaced registeringopenings, the outer end of the lever being positioned through said clevis and having an opening' therein for registry with predetermined openings of the clevis for receiving a locking pin.

In testimony whereof I 'aiiix my signature.V

EDWIN M. WAYLAND;

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